Loom



July 2, 1940 BRowN I Loom 2,20 Filed 'v 6,832

Jul

y 12, 195s Y 2 sheet s-Sheet 1 A O1 l EL 5 INVENT EON OR ATTORNEY,

July 2, 1,940.

c. D. BRowN '2,206,832

LOOM

Filed July 12. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. @AEL D. SHOW/y.

`ATTORNEY- Patented July 2, 1940 LOOM C'arl D. Brown, .Hopedala Mass., assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application July 12, 1939, Serial No. 284,028

15 Claims.

The present invention pertains to automatic looms and moreparticularly relates to the control `and removal of filling ends formed by such looms.

Automatic looms commonly have a reciprocating lay with a shuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, and 'filling replenishingmechanism for automatically replenishing the vfilling supply whenever the latter becomes substantially exhausted. Operation ofthe replenishing mechansm incidentally results in the formation of an incoming filling end which projects from the cloth selvage, and commonly also results in a similarly projecting outgoing `iilling end. The loom includes parting means. such as a temple thread cutter for parting the filling ends adjacent the cloth selvage, and another parting means for parting and clamping the outgoing filling ends adjacent the shuttlebox. As; constructed com- N `mercially, such looms have not commonly included any `means whatever for collecting the parted lling ends fand removing them from the loom, such ends lbeing left hanging from the` magazine of the replenishing mechanism or from l the said clamping means.

The filling ends when left hanging as just delem have been made heretofore. For example, it

has been proposed to remove the filling ends by a suction pipe located adjacent the shuttle box and connectedto a vacuum pump, Other proy posals include swinging hooks or arms, operated at the time of `filling replenishment, to `engage the filling ends and carry `them to some point not so close to the lay and shuttle box. However,

these prior constructions have been unsatisfactory because they areexpensive, complex and unreliable, and they have not been used commercially to `any appreciable extent. Thus, inprior looms,

thepiecesof filling ends are sometimes collected and removed manually,` at irregular intervals,

but `are otherwise` left to fall where they may and to be laboriously picked out of thecloth if woven therein.` y

, Itis accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an automatic loom having a lay, shuttle box` replenishing mechanism,

u and parting means as1aforesaid, and a filling end remover` comprising a conduit leading from a` point adjacent the shuttle box to a point remote therefrom, and mechanical means for feeding the filling ends into and through the conduit,

whereby such ends shall beautomatioally pre- `5` vented from being woven into the cloth.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished in the construction illustrated on the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig, `l is a perspective View of the replenishing 10 side of an automatic loom having the preferred embodiment of my invention applied thereto;

. Fig. 2 is. a plan view of certain mechanism shown on Fig, `1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, to a larger scale, showing 16 part of the lling end remover of Figs. 1 and 2;

and

Fig. 4 is a View in` elevation taken from the left of Fig. 3.

'I'he loom shown on the drawings is but frag- 20 mentarily illustrated, the parts and mechanisms `not shown being of usual construction which is Well known in theart and forms no part of the present invention.` In addition, certain ofthe parts that are shown are old and well known, they 25 being of the present invention only in thatthey are illustrative of parts that may be used in the combination defined in the appended claims. The old parts include a loom frame, of which part of a right hand loom side I and a breast beam 2 30 are shown, and also include a reciprocating lay of which the lay beam 3, reed ll and shuttle box 5 are shown. The shuttle box 5 is `located at the replenishing end of the lay, which in the present instance is at the right hand side of the 35 loom.

A shuttle S, carrying the filling supply, is picked from side to side ofthe loom, along the lay beam 3, by suitable means which may include a picker stick 1. filling thread in the shed SWhich filling thread is beaten into the felloithe cloth C by the reed 4. When the iilling supply in the `shuttle is substantially exhausted, a fresh supply is provided by suitable automatic replenishing mechanism. 45 The replenishing mechanism may be of any suitable usualv construction, such as the bobbin changing mechanism indicated at 8. This mechanism includes a magazine 9 holding reserve bobbins l0 which are transferred to the shuttle as 50 needed. 'Ihe ends f of the filling on the bobbins l!! are attached to a xed holder l I on the magazine.

The transfer of a bobbin Il) to the shuttle 6 and the subsequent picking of the shuttle results As the shuttle is thus picked, it lays 40 in the formation of a length of filling thread which extends from the holder Il through the shed S. The subsequent beating in of the portion of this thread which is in the shed leaves the end f projecting from the cloth selvage. This filling end is known in the art as the incoming filling end. When the loom is operating with a filling feeler, not shown, the replenishing operation results in formation of another filling end J" projecting from the cloth selvage. This end f extends from the selvage to the outgoing bobbin in the shuttle and is known as the outgoing filling end, These filling ends are thus formed by operan tion of the replenishing mechanism but the formation is incidental to the major function, replenishing the filling supply.

The outgoing lling end f must be parted, at the time of transfer, between the cloth selvage and the shuttle. This parting may be effected by any usual means, that shown including parting and clamping blades l2. These blades are normally closed, to grip a filling end f as shown, but are moved rearwardly toward the shuttle box and are simultaneously opened, just prior to each replenishing operation. The opening of the blades l2 releases the lling end f held thereby. Then, as the replenishing operation takes place, the blades are again closed to part and clamp the new outgoing filling end and the blades are again moved forwardly. This parting and clamping mechanism is not of the present invention, it being disclosed and claimed in patent to Stafford, No. 1,552,388, granted Sept. l, 1925, to which patent reference may be had for a more complete disclosure.

The filling ends ,f and f are parted adjacent the cloth selvage by any suitable means, such. the usual temple thread cutter I3. Both such filling ends may be supported between the thread cutter i3 and the thread cutter l2 by a hook M which is fixed on the loom frame. This hook is not new, per se, but may be found desirable for reasons that will become apparent. The incoming filling end f may be further supported by a fixed wire l5 which extendsover the shuttle box 5 adjacent the outer end thereof.

It will be apparent that, even when the hook lll and support l5 are used, the cutting of the filling ends by cutter i3 leaves the ends substantially f free and uncontrolled. .The freer ends are very apt to float or be blown onto moving parts of the loom, and more particularly onto the lay and shuttle box, from whence they may be carried into the shed S by the shuttle 6, thus causing a defect in the cloth. The defects thus caused, on prior looms, are fairly numerous, and are of serious consequence particularly in the better grades of fabrics including rayon and the like. It is to prevent these defects that I have provided the filling end removing means hereinafter described, for automatically conveying the fillingends away from the moving parts of the loom.

In accordance with the present invention,v the said removing means comprises a conduit leading i The filling ends f and f` withdraw from the shuttle box 5 as the lay moves rearwardly following a replenishing operation. Thereafter, the filling ends project from the cloth selvage longitudinally of the lay, in front of the shuttle box. The rearward end i9 of the conduit I6 is located directly in front of these filling ends, ywhich point is adjacent the shuttle box when the lay is in its forward position. The conduit extends forwardly from its rearward end, to any suitable point that is sufficiently remote from the moving parts of the loom, particularly the lay and shuttle box. The forward end 28 of the particular conduit iii is located over the top of the usual ejected-bobbin receptacle 2|.

It will be apparent that various suitable mechanical means may bei devised for feeding the filling ends into and through a conduit such as the conduit IG. However, the preferred form shown is simple and very effective. This preferred' form comprises 'a member 22 in the form of a plunger. The member 22 has a simple, continuous reciprocating motiony which` may be imparted by the lay. To this end, the member may bes xed to the lay by beingrigidly fixed at its rearward end to a bracket 23 on the front of the shuttle box 5. The member 22 extends forwardly from the bracket 23 into the conduit I6 and is preferably of sumcient length that it is not completely withdrawn from the conduit even when the lay is in its rearward position. l f Y When the member 22 is located as just de* scribed, the filling ends f and f will sag into engagement with the member as soon as they'arc out by the temple thread cutter I3. The member 22 has projections 24 which thereupon engage the filling ends and push them forwardly into the rearward end of the conduit I6. The projections 24 extend circumferentially of the member 22 and are radially inclined, each projection Ahaving a radial front face and a forwardly inclined rear face as shown more clearly by Fig. 3.' When thus formed, the projections are adapted to feed the filling ends in one direction only, i. e., forwardly.

The total movement of the member 22is appreciably less than the distance the newly formed filling ends must travel to emerge from 'the front end of the conduitV i6. The member 22 accordingly must reciprocate several times, feeding the filling ends forwardly with an intermittent motion, to feed the ends entirely through the conduit. In other words, the member 22 feeds the ends forwardly ashort distance, then moves rearwardly leaving the ends stationary, and then feeds the ends forwardly, etc. The particular construction shown is effective to produ-ce the desired intermittent feeding action, only if the conduit is provided with vmeans for preventing retrograde or rearward movement ofthe filling ends. Meansl for this purpose may consist of any suitable material which is of a nature to or has the property of adhering to the filling ends. A suitable material may consist of a pile fabric, or a pieceof sheepskin with the wool properly clipped. The material is located adjacent the forward end of the the member 22 and preferably, as shown at 25, is fixed within the conduit I6 with the wool or pile 26 on the inside and in engagement with the member 22.

I find that with the construction above described, the outgoing filling end f is very rapidly fed entirely through the conduit IE and dropped in the receptacle 2l The incoming filling ends f are likewise fed through the conduit as far as permitted by their connection to the holder Il.

While a numberrof incoming filling ends accumulatep'in the conduit, they may be broken by a single movement of the operators hand and then 'vvilllpromptly feed through the conduit and fall into the receptacle 2l. In the meantime, these ends are `effectively held entirely out of any posi` tion Where they might be caught and carried into the cloth.

Having fullydisclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

parting said filling ends adjacent the cloth selvage, and reciprocating means for feeding the parted filling ends into and through saidiconduit.

`2. In an automatic filling replenishing loom,

` the combination of the reciprocatingv lay, filling replenishing mechanism forming the usual incoming filling ends projecting from the cloth selvage, a conduit extending from a point adjak cent said replenishing mechanism to a point remote therefrom, means for parting said filling ends adjacent the cloth selvage, and reciprocating means engaging the partedfilling ends and `feeding them into and along said conduit.

3. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, the combination of the reciprocating lay having a shuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, filling replenishing mechanism, said mechanism automatically replenishing the filling supply and incidentally forming incomingfilling ends which project from the cloth selvage, a conduit extending from a point adjacent said filling ends in front of said shuttle box to a point remote from said lay, means for parting said filling ends adjacent the cloth selvage, and mechanical means constructed and arranged to engage the parted filling ends intermediate the ends thereof and feed them into and along said conduit.

4. In an automatic `filling replenishing loom,`

the combination of the reciprocating lay, filling replenishing mechanism including amagazine, operation of said mechanism incidentally forming the usual outgoing and incoming filling ends which project from the cloth selvage, a conduit extending from awpoint beneath said magazine adjacent said filling` ends to a point remote from the moving parts of the loom, means for parting said ends adjacent the cloth selvage, anda single mechanical means engaging `both said outgoing and incoming filling ends and feeding them into` said conduit.

`5 In an automatic filling replenishing loom, `the combination of thereciprocating lay, filling replenishing mechanism, said mechanism incidentally forming incoming filling ends projecting from the cloth selvage, a conduit exi tendingfrom a point, adjacent said replenishing cidentally forming incoming filling ends project` ing from the cloth selvage, a conduit extending from a point adjacent said replenishing mechanism in front of the lay to a point remote from the moving partsl of the loom, a temple thread cutter for cutting said filling ends adjacent the cloth selvage, and toothed means traversing the interior of said conduit for engaging the cut lilling ends and feeding them to and through said conduit. i i

'7. In 1an automatic filling replenishing loom, the combination` of thereciprocating lay having a shuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, replenishing mechanism located adjacent said shuttle box, said mechanism incidentally forming incoming filling ends projecting from the cloth selvage, a fixed conduit extending forwardly from a point adjacent said shuttle box to a point remote therefrom, means for parting said filling ends adjacent the cloth selvage, and a continuously reciprocating memberconstructed and arranged to engage the parted incomingfilling ends `and feed them into and forwardly along said conduit. i i

`8. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, the combination of the reciprocating lay having a shuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, replenishing mechanism located adjacent said shuttle box, said mechanism incidentally forming outgoing and incoming lling ends projecting from the cloth selvage, a fixed conduit 1ocated adjacent said shuttle box and extending forwardly therefrom, means for parting said lling ends adjacent the cloth selvage, and a member carried by said lay and constructed and' arranged to engage the parted outgoing and incoming filling ends and push them into and for- Wardly through said conduit.

9. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, the combination of the reciprocating lay having a shuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, replenishing mechanism located adjacent said shuttlebox, said mechanism incidentally forming outgoing and incoming filling ends extending from the cloth selvage and in front of said shuttle box, a xed conduit located in front of said shuttle box intermediate the ends thereof, said conduit extending forwardly from a point adjacent said filling ends, means for parting said lling ends adjacent the cloth selvage, and a member supported on the lay and arranged to feed said filling ends into and through said conduit.

i 10. In a` filling end remover for autom-atie looms, the combination of `a conduit leading away from the moving parts of the loom, a continuously reciprocating member constructed and arranged to engage the filling ends and feed them into and along said conduit, and means for recipirocating said member as aforesaid.

11. In a filling end remover for automatic looms, the combination of a fixed conduit leading away from the moving parts of the loom, a reciprocating member constructed and arranged to engage the filling ends and feed them into and along said conduit, and means for reciprocating said member, said member having radially inclined projections for feeding said filling ends in one direction only, and said conduit having means for preventing movement of said filling ends in the opposite direction. a

12. An automatic loom having filling replenishing mechanism, a reciprocating lay, and a fillr' ing end remover, said end remover comprising a fixed conduit leading avvay from said lay and a filling end feeding member reciprocating Within said conduit, said member having inclined projections for feeding said filling ends intermittently along said conduit, and said conduit having holding means for preventing retrograde movement cf said lling ends. i

13. An automatic loom having lling replenishing mechanism, a reciprocating lay having a shuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, and a filling endrernover, said remover comprising a fixed conduit extending forwardly from a point in front of said shuttle box, and a filling end feeding member fixed to said lay and extending forwardly within said conduit, said member having forwardly inclined projections engaging said filling ends and feeding them forwardly intermittently, and said conduit containing holding means for preventing rearward movement of said lling ends.

14. An automatic loom having filling replenishing mechanism, a reciprocating lay having a Ishuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, and

a filling end remover, said remover comprising a plunger fixed to said lay adjacent said shuttle box and extending forwardly therefromand a holding material lixed adjacent the forward part of said plunger, said plunger having a multiplicity of forwardly inclined projections engaging lsaid lling ends and feeding them forwardly along said material, and said material being of a nature to adhere to said filling ends sufficiently to prevent rearward movement thereof.

15. An automatic loom having filling replenishing mechanism, a reciprocating lay having a shuttle box at the replenishing end thereof, and a lling end remover, said `remover comprising a xed conduit extending forwardly from a point in front of said shuttle box, and a filling end feeding member fixed to said lay and extending forwardly within said conduit, said member having amultiplicity of longitudinally spaced circumferential ridges, each of said ridges having a radial front face and a forwardly inclined rear face whereby said ridges engage and feed the lling ends forwardly step by step, and said conduit being lined with a-rnaterial having the property of adhering to said filling ends sufliciently to l prevent the ends from moving rearwardly with said plunger. v

CARL D. BROWN. 

